Hinge connection for panel and panel combination

ABSTRACT

This specification discloses a hinge for connecting a panel or the like to a support or for connecting two panels together. In the example, the hinge is shown connecting two panels. A bracket is attached to the edge of each panel adjacent the other. These brackets extend from the top of each panel to the bottom. Flexible hinge strips are supported between the panel edges. Each hinge strip has one of its edges clamped under one edge of one of the brackets and its opposite edge clamped under the opposite edge of the bracket on the other panel. Each alternate strip has its opposite edge clamped under the opposite edge of the bracket. Thus, each strip in a sense crosses the strip above it, and the strip below it, so that the panels may swing either direction relative to each other.

Umted States Patent 1 1 3,695,330 Hasbrouck 451 Oct, 3, 1972 HINGE CONNECTION FOR PANEL 1,931,125 10/1933 Balduf ..52/615 X AND PANEL COMBINATION 2,173,808 9/1939 Kellogg ..52/6|5 [72] Inventor: Gene B. Hasbmuck Corry Pa 3.273.297 9/1966 Wehe, Jr ..52/615 X [73] Assignee: The Singer Company, Elizabeth, Primary Examiner-David J. Williamowsky NJ. Assistant Examiner-Philip C. Kannan [22] Filed: April 30, 19,70 Attorney-Charles L. bovercheck [21] Appl. No.: 33,215 [57] ABSTRACT This specification discloses a hinge for connecting a 52 vs. C]. ..160/l35, 16/150, 16/170, panel or the like to a pp or for connecting two 52/615, 160/231, 160/351, 237/2() 92C panels together. in the example, the hinge is shown 51 1111. c1. ..E06b 3/48 connecting two P A bracket is attached to the [58] Field of Search..............160/229, 231, 135, 351; edge of each Panel adjacent the other- These brackets 49/147 399 5m; 52 15; 1 150 7 extend from the top of each panel to the bottom. Flex ible hinge strips are supported between the panel [56] a Cited edges. Each hinge strip has one of its edges clamped under one edge of one of the brackets and its opposite UNITED STATES PATENTS edge clamped under the opposite edge of the bracket on the other panel. Each alternate strip has its op- 'lH posite edge clamped under the opposite edge of the 3232370 2/1966 J 1 4 x bracket. Thus, each strip in a sense crosses the strip a e I above it, and the strip below it, so that the panels may 3,403,720 10/1968 Ahleen swing either direction relative to each h 3,441,975 5/1969 Shepherd ..l6/150 2,880,471 4/1959 Munchhausen ..52/6l5 X 5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDUCI 3 1912 SHEET 1 BF 2 I +5 2 +5 grwvwlm GEME :5. HA SBROUUQ (2A,,4 KM! W PATENTEDUIII 3 I972 m 1 7.? III I, II II I II I I I II II I III I III III II: III II I ''I Q I L1H H\\ %I kg Q HI I II I, III I III I III y IR IEI I I:| II II llfl I/Q I I III II III SHEET 2 UF 2 I I I II I I II III I I I I I; II II I] I III II II I II I: II II II II II II I I III II II II I I I; JV /y l [4, I I I: {I II I II II I: I II 7 |I II I: 2 II II II I I I I gvwvrvlo'v NE HAJd/Z MK CM/W mm,

HINGE CONNECTION FOR PANEL AND PANEL COMBINATION STATEMENT OF INVENTION This invention relates to hinges and, more particularly, to hinges in combination with panels for office partitions, room separators, and the like.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide an improved hinge connection.

Another object is to provide an improved hinge connection in combination with a panel assembly.

Another object is to provide a hinge connection which will allow a panel to swing in either direction.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved hinge and panel assembly.

Another object is to provide an improved hinge and panel assembly having panels which will swing [80 upon themselves for shipping panels stacked flat.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a side view of a panel and hinge connection according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the assembly shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the bracket used as a part of the hinge;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the bracket;

FIG. 6 is an end view of the hinge structure; and

FIG. 7 is a top view of the hinge structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The drawings generally show panels 10 and II swingably connected together by hinges I2. The hinges 12 are made up of the brackets 13 and 14 which are fixed to the edges of the panels and the hinge strips 15 and 16, each of which has an edge clamped under the opposite edges of the brackets I3 or I4 in intersecting relation with each other. Four hinge strips are shown in FIG. I, one above the other. Plates [7 and 18 are inserted in the brackets and the brackets are fixed to the panels by screws I9. The feet 20 are attached to the lower ends of the panels to support them in position.

The panels 10 and 11 each have a core 21 which may be made from a sheet of laminated aluminum foil. The filler material 22 may be of fiberglass batting. A layer approximately one-fourth inch thick of polyurethane foam 23 may be fixed on the outside of each of the battings, and a fabric covering 25 is placed on each side.

A filler block 26 is fixed in place between the urethane layers and these filler blocks 26 receive the screws I9 which fix the brackets I3 and I4 to the panels I0 and I I.

Each bracket 13 and 14 extends the entire length from top to bottom of the panels 11 and I2. The sides of brackets 13 and I4 bend outward and the central parts of the brackets 13 and 14 are in the form of a channel. The ends 27 are turned outward and have slots 28 to receive the edges of the strips I4. The ends 27 overlie and are spaced from the blocks 26 and a bead 29 and bead 30 are formed on the ends 27 of the brackets. The brackets may be made of extruded aluminum or other suitable relatively rigid material.

The strips 15 may be made of plastic or any suitable relatively flexible material. The brackets 13 will have spaced holes which will receive the screws 19.

The strips 15 have a length approximately one-fourth the height of the panels so that in the example shown, four strips 15 are used to connect the panels 10 and l 1. Each strip 15 is attached to the PP ite edge of bracket 13 or 14 from the strip adjacent it. Each strip 15 has an intermediate part 32 and two ends 34 connected by thin parts 33 which may be in the form of living hinges familiar to those skilled in the art. The ends 34 are molded at an incline of approximately to the intermediate part 32 and beads 35 are formed integrally with the ends 34. These beads 35 are received in the space between the ends 27 and the beads 29 when the hinge is assembled in the position shown in FIG. 3.

The feet 20 are made up of two platelike adjusting brackets 40 and 41 which are attached to the bottom of the panels, and a laterally extending channel 42 is pivoted to the pivot point of the brackets 40 and 41. The channels have floor glides 45 to stabilize the assembly.

The foregoing specification sets forth the invention in its preferred practical forms but the structure shown is capable of modification within a range of equivalents without departing from the invention which is to be understood is broadly novel as in commensurate with the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In combination, a first panel and a second panel and a hinge connecting a side edge of said first panel to a side edge of said second panel,

said hinge comprising a first strip of flexible material and a second strip of flexible material, each having a first edge and a second edge,

said first panel and said second panel being disposed in end to end relation with each other and each end having a first side edge and a second side edge,

means fixing said first edge of said first strip to said first side edge of said first panel and means fixing said second edge of said first strip to said second side edge of said second panel,

means fixing said first edge of said second strip to said first end edge of said second panel and means fixing said second edge of said second strip to said second end edge of said first panel, whereby said panels may swing in either direction relative to each other,

said strips have longitudinally extending beads along each end and means overlying said beads, clamping said beads to said panels,

said means clamping said strips to said panels com prises U-shaped brackets having legs spaced from the intermediate part thereof,

and said brackets have beads engaging said strips.

2. The combination recited in claim I wherein said strips have edge portions connected to said strips by living hinges.

3. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said intermediate part of said brackets being attached to said panels,

said legs extending from each end of said U-shaped brackets,

and outwardly extending members attached to the outer end of each said leg,

and bead members attached to said legs and extending toward said beads on said strips being disposed outward of said beads on said strips.

4. The panels of claim I wherein said panels are each made up of a core made of a sheet of foil material,

fiber insulation on each side of said core,

a sheet of foam material on each side of said fiber material,

a cover material over said foam material,

and a filler block in each end of said panel,

said filler block being disposed between said foam material,

and said means fixing said strips to said panels are fixed to said biller blocks.

5. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein a foot member is supported on said first and said second panel,

said foot being disposed at said connection between said panels and extending from each side of each said panel,

said foot having means adapted to engage two said panels and floor engaging members on the distal ends of said member.

# l i i 

1. In combination, a first panel and a second panel and a hinge connecting a side edge of said first panel to a side edge of said second panel, said hinge comprising a first strip of flexible material and a second strip of flexible material, each having a first edge and a second edge, said first panel and said second panel being disposed in end to end relation with each other and each end having a first side edge and a second side edge, means fixing said first edge of said first strip to said first side edge of said first panel and means fixing said second edge of said first strip to said second side edge of said second panel, means fixing said first edge of said second strip to said first end edge of said second panel and means fixing said second edge of said second strip to said second end edge of said first panel, whereby said panels may swing in either direction relative to each other, said strips have longitudinally extending beads along each end and means overlying said beads, clamping said beads to said panels, said means clamping said strips to said panels comprises Ushaped brackets having legs spaced from the intermediate part thereof, and said brackets have beads engaging said strips.
 2. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said strips have edge portions connected to said strips by living hinges.
 3. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said intermediate part of said brackets being attached to said panels, said legs extending from each end of said U-shaped brackets, and outwardly extending members attached to the outer end of each said leg, and bead members attached to said legs and extending toward said beads on said strips being disposed outward of said beads on said strips.
 4. The panels of claim 1 wherein said panels are each made up of a core made of a sheet of foil material, fiber insulation on each side of said core, a sheet of Foam material on each side of said fiber material, a cover material over said foam material, and a filler block in each end of said panel, said filler block being disposed between said foam material, and said means fixing said strips to said panels are fixed to said biller blocks.
 5. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein a foot member is supported on said first and said second panel, said foot being disposed at said connection between said panels and extending from each side of each said panel, said foot having means adapted to engage two said panels and floor engaging members on the distal ends of said member. 